Sean Sharkey, Sandy Lane, Blackrock who died peacefully at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on November 7th was a very familiar and much loved character in his native village.

Sean was born reared and lived all his life in Blackrock where his family's roots are deeply embedded. The family is one of the oldest and most respected in the area, and Sean with his simple, inoffensive manner was held with great affection across the full age spectrum and far beyond the boundaries of the village.

He touched a great many lives with his good humour and simple ways.

These were qualities that endeared him to friends, acquaintances andindeed strangers all over the country and many others that he met on his holiday travels to Spain and Greece.

Sean fitted in seamlessly everywhere he went, with his holiday ventures the highlight of his life He travelled widely, considering that he only started to travel out of the country in the last ten years. In his younger days he went to Scotland and Lourdes and occasionally to watch his beloved Liverpool.

He will be known best for his love of dogs. The abiding memory that many have of Sean is happily going along the roads in the village handling a small pack of dogs of all sizes and shapes as he brought them for their daily exercise.

None of the dogs were his own, but they filled a void when his beloved dog, Nick died in the early 90s. He opted instead to walk other owners' dogs, and became familiar to virtually all in the village, always with a pleasant word to say and ready to stop for a short chat. He kept on the daily routine for 15 years until struck with ill health. Sean was the fourth eldest of eight children, four daughters and four sons, of the late Thomas (Tommy) and Rose (neé McCabe, Ardee). He attended the local primary school and also the CBS in Dundalk.

The family lived first on Rock Road and later moved to Cocklehill and when his father died Sean and his mother ended up residing on Sandy Lane.

He was a runner in his youth, and was a member of the Blackrock Athletic club, and completed the Dublin marathon on a couple of occasions, and also the Belfast marathon

He was a supporter of Liverpool FC and enjoyed watching football on television. His pleasures were simple like his nature. His routine entailed going into town early in the morning and meeting up with friends for a coffee, which was his favourite beverage. He also loved a smoke.

His big passion was travel as he grew more and more to like going abroad on holiday in his later years.

After reposing at his brother Brendan's home, Sean's remains were removed to St. Oliver Plunkett Church for Requiem Mass celebrated by Very Rev Padraig Keenan PP.

The large crowd who attended the wake and funeral ceremonies reflected the high regard with which Sean was held and his family's high standing in the community.

Nephews John and Michael Neary, Thomas and Paul Sharkey carried the coffin into the Church, and nieces, Joanne Sharkey, Victoria Dyas, Una and Roisin Sharkey acted as pall bearers as the remains were taken then from the church for Sean's final journey for burial in Haggardstown cemetery.